Electric-lamp key-socket.



A. W. CLAUDER.

ELECTRIC LAMP KEY SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED APR.19,1912.

1,055,1 37'. Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

WITNESSES: /NVENT l i @1MM/www A NORA/EPS UNITED STATE-s PATENT oEEicE.

ARTHUR W. CLAUDEB, F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, 0E BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F CON- Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application led' April 19, 1912. Serial No. 691,808.

ELECTRIC-LAMP KEY-SOCKET.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

electric in'candescentlaanpsof that class in which a rotatingfkey isused to effect both a quick'malni4 and .a uick break ofthe circuit, and thei mai-n object of my invention is -to lcoi'isti'uct'euch'avkey socket with a more positive acti0n=.than heretofore with a switch movable lin either direction.

"In the :accompanying drawing, Figure 1 I isavertical section cfa key socket embody ing provided with binding screws 14, Fig. 1. The lower block .10 carries upon its ing my'inventionz; :Fi is .a vertical .section throu h .thefins' ating body, at right -anglesto't e-section, Fig. 1, the cap, outer shell and screw shellbeingomi-tted; 3 isf-a; perspective view of the switch devices; Fig. 4 is a similar perspective view of the same devices, but from the opposite end, and with the rotary switch piece` 1n another position; Fig. 5' is a perspective view of the rotary switch piece detached; Fig. '6 is. a perspective view of the cam detached; Fig. 7 is a sectional View, illustrating the operation of the switch.

The 1 electric lamp socket `may have any suitable `formy of insulating body carrying wire terminals and lamp terminals, `and adapted to be inclosed within the usual lined metal shell S and cap C. In the drawing I have shown the supporting body as composed o two porcelain or other insulating blocks 10 and .11, mechanically united by metal standards 12 vand 13, which at the same time constitute the wire terminals, be-

lower face the lamp-receiving terminals, shown as consisting of-the usual central spring contact 16 and screw shell 17. The

metal terminal standard 13 is in electrical communication with the screw shell 17. The central lamp contact 16 is in electrical connection with a spring contact 18 in the .bottom of a large central switch chamber which is formed by recesses in the-juxtaposed insulating blocks 10, 11. The key-spindle 20,

having the usual key-handle 19, is mounted in bearings in the end pieces of a frame 21,

' which may be secured in lace in the switch W. Citations,`

chamber by a screw 22, Fig. 2, from the underside of the lower insulating block 10.

Mounted upon the spindle, yso as to turn thereon, is a rotary metal switch piece 26 in the shape of an open rectangular frame, such that when it stands in a vertical plane, Fig. 1, it closes the circuit between the interior contact 18 and a spring contact 27, Fig. 1, projecting vfrom the `upper part of the line-wire terminal standard 12. By turning the switch piece 26 away from this position the circuit will be broken at two points, that is, at 18 and 27. I rovide means whereby this rotary switch piece may be locked either in the on or oi position, but when desired may be thrown with a uick movement to break or make the circuit, as the case may be, and this may be done by rotation of the key spindle in either direction. This spindle 20 has tixedly secured to it a cani 23, and there is coiled around the spindle a helical spring 24, whose crossed ends embrace the opposite sides of an arm 25, which is carried by the spindle and in this instance is shown as a projection from the cam piece 23, Fig. 6. The crossed ends of the sprin 24 also embrace an adjacent arm of the switch piece 26, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. This switch piece carries two latches 28 and 29 at opposite ends of the switch piece to coperate with sets of fixed stops 30 and 31, which are formed in the end walls of the stationary .frame 21. There are four stops 30 and four stops 31, and they are in such relation to the corresponding latches 28 and 29, that the latch aiid stops at one end of the rotary switch 26 arc adapted to temporarily lock the switch against rotation in one direction, and those at the other end of the switchto lock it against rotation in thel other directoii and either in the on or the oli' position of the switch piece. The switch piece can be slid lengthwise upon the spindle 2O to a sutiicient extent to release'the latch 28 or 29, as the case may be, from engagement with its stop 30 or 31. To ettect its release of the lock, the switch piece is provided with two projections 32, 33, and yadapted to be acted upon by the cani piece 23 fixed to the spindle 20.

Assuming the switch piece 26 to be in the vertical position shown in Figs. l and 2, the circuit will lbe closed from wire terminal 12, spring contact 27, vswitch `piece 26, contacts 18, 16, lamp, screw shell 17 and wire terminal 13. At the same time, the switch piece 26 will be so acted on by the cam 23 as to be f held about in its mid position, Fig. 2, lengthwise of the spindle with the two latches 28 and 29 projecting into engagement with their respective stops 31 and 32. If then the spindle 20 be turned by the key handle either to the right or to the left, the effect will be to tension the spring 24, by the arm 25 moving one of the legs of the spring over, as indicated in Fig. 7, while the other leg is held by the arm of the switch piece 26, which is meantime held locked until the cam 23 has moved the switch piece endwise along the shaft sufficiently to `free the detaining latch 28 or 29) from engagement with that stop (30 or 31) which has held it. Then the ten sioned spring 24 will throw the switch iece around a quarter turn with a snap, an the cam 23 will during that quarter turn, move the switch piece endwise again to positively throw the latch (28 or 29) into engagementwith the next stop of the set (30 or 31). A like action will take place in turning the switch to close the circuit again, with a quick snap, and as will be seen, this can be accomplished by turning the key spindle in either direction. 1f by reason of the weakness of the spring 24, or for other cause, the rotary switch should be held from turning by the friction of the contacts 18 and 27 after being released from the stop 30 or 31the arm 25, carried by the spindle, will ultimately come up against the arm 33 of the switch piece 26 and impart a positive motion to the latter.

While the primary object of my invention has been to construct a key socket with a positively locking and unlocking key mechanism revoluble in either direction with quick make and quick break, the snap switch which I have thus invented capable of being practically employed within the limited contines of a lamp socket, can be in either direction, and to positively-cause the switch piece to be then locked by another stop.

2. A switch comprising an insulating body, a rotary key spindle, a switch piece`v two contacts cooperating therewith `for adouble break, fixed stops for temporarily locking the switch piece from rotating in either direction, a spring to actuate the switch piece, means to tension 4the spring and cam means to release the locked switch piece on the rotation of the spindle in either direction, and to positively cause the switch locking the switch piece from rotating in l either direction, a ,spring to actuate the switch piece, means to tension. the spring and cam means to release the locked switch piece on the rotation of the spindlevin either direction, and to positively cause the switch lpiece to be then locked by another stop.

4. A switch comprising an insulating body, a rotary key spindle, a rotary switch piece to turn upon said spindle, contacts cooperating with the switch for a double l break, two sets of iixed locking stops for theswitch piece .to lock the latter from rotation in either direction, a spring to actuate the switch piece, means to tension the spring and cam means to release the locked switch on the rotation of the spindle in either direction, and to positively cause the switch piece to be then locked by another 5. A switch comprising an insulating body, a rotary key spindle, a rotary switch piece to turn upon said spindle and to move lengthwise thereon, contacts cooperating with the switch piece, two sets of stops to lock the switch piece from rotation in either direction, a spring to actuate the switch piece, means to tension the spring and a cam to move the switch piece lengthwise to rey lease the latter upon rotation of the spindle in either direction.

6. A switch comprising an insulating body, a rotary key spindle, a rotary switch piece to turn on the spindle, contacts cooperating with the switch piece, a fixed frame with end pieces in which the key spindle may turn, two sets of stops oni the frame to lock the switch piece from rotation in either direction, a spring to actuate the switch piece, means to tension the, spring and a cam to release lthe switch piece upon rotation of the spindle in either direction. 7. A switch comprising an insulating body, a rotary key spindle, a rot-ary switch piece, contacts'coperating with the switch piece-,:stops to lock the latter from rotation 'in either direction, a spring to actuate the switch piece, means to tension t-he spring, a cam to release the switch piece upon rotation of the spindle in either direction, the spindle also having an arm to contact with the switch piece, should the latter fail to mov when released.

8. A key socket for electric lamps, comprising an insulating body with line terminals and lamp terminals, a rotary key spindie, a rotary switch piece, fixed stops to temporarily lock the latter from rotation in either direction, a spring to actuate the switch piece, means to tension the spring and cam means to release the locked switch on rotation of the spindle -in either direction and to positively cause the switch piece to be then locked by another stop.

9. A key socket for electric lamps, comprising an insulating body With line terminels and lamp terminals, n rotary key spin. die, a rotary switch piece to turn on said spindle and to move lengthwise thereon, contacts coperating with the switch piece, two sets of stops to lock the switch piece from rotation in `either direction, a spring to actuate the switch piece, means to tension the spring and cam means to move the switch piece lengthwise to release the latter from rotation of the spindle in either direction and to positively cause the switch piece to be then locked by another stop.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nume to this specification, in the-presence of two subscriblng witnesses.

ARTHUR W. CLAUDER.

Witnesses:

Gr. W.- Goonnmoe, GEORGE B. TnoMAs. 

